Furniture



Nov. 3, 1959 c. F. CLOSE 2,910,803

FURNITURE Filed Sept. 9, 1957 1N VENTORI CHARLES F. CLOSE United StatesPatent,

2,910,803 FURNITURE 7 Charles F. Close, Arlington Heights, Ill.,assignor to Arlington Seating Co., Arlington Heights, 111., acorporation of Illinois t x 1 Application September 9, 1957, Serial No.682,687

4 Claims. I 01. 45-137 This invention relates to furniture and, moreparticularly, to base structures therefor which areparticularly welladapted for use as bases for desks, and the like.

It is a primary object of my invention to enable a novel article offurniture tobe constructed in a novel and expeditious manner.

An ancillary object is to enable novel base structures to be affordedfor desks, and the like.

Another object of my invention is to afford a novel base for'desks, andthe like, embodying a novel scuff plate constituted and arranged in anovel and expeditious manner. p p I A further object of my invention isto enable a scuff plate to be disposed in substantially completelyenclosing relation to the portion of the base of a school desk, or thelike, which is the portion primarily exposed to scuffing by the feet ofthe people using the desk.

Another object is to afford a novel base of tubular-type constructionhaving horizontally extending lowermost portions protected in a noveland expeditious manner by a scuff plate.

Yet another object of my invention is to afford a novel base havingelongated tapering portions protected by a removable scuff plateconstituted and arranged in a novel and expeditious manner.

Another object ofmy invention is to afford a novel base of theaforementioned type having horizontally extending elongated leg portionswith the top and opposite longitudinally extending sides thereofprotected in a novel and expeditious manner by a novel scuff plate.

A further object is to afford a novel base for desks, and like articlesof furniture, which has horizontally extending elongated leg portionswith a scuff plate mounted in a novel and expeditious manner on theupper portions of said leg portions.

Other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent fromthe following description and claims and are illustrated in theaccompanying drawings which, by way of illustration, show a preferredembodiment of the present invention and the principles thereof and whatI now consider to be the best mode in which I have contemplated applyingthese principles. Other embodiments of the invention embodying the sameor equivalent principles may be used and structural changes made asdesired by those skilled in the art without departing from the presentinvention and the purview of the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a front perspective view of a desk embodying the principles ofmy invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail perspective view of a portion of the deskshown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an exploded detail perspective view of a portion of the deskshown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail perspective view of a part of the structureshown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view taken substantially along the line 5-5in Fig. 2; and

Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view taken substantially along the line 6-6in Fig. 2.

A novel desk 10, embodying the principles of my invention, is shown inthe drawings to illustrate the preferred embodiment of my invention.

The desk 10 embodies, in general, a body portion 12 supported inelevated position on the upper ends of two legs 14 and 15, which afforda supporting base for the body portion 12, Fig. l.

t The body portion 12 may be of any suitable type, but as shown in thedrawings, embodies a substantially rectangular-shaped housing 17 havinga rectangular-shaped top wall 18 which affords the desk top for the desk10.

The legs 14 and 15 are identical in construction, except that they aremirror images of each other, and it is only deemed necessary to describein detail the construction of one of the legs 14, the parts of the otherleg 15 being indicated in the drawings by the same reference numerals asthose indicating the corresponding parts of the leg 14.

Thus, referring to the drawings, it will be seen that the leg 14includes an elongated horizontally extending lower arm 21 and anelongated vertically extending arm 22 which projects upwardly from thearm 21 between the ends of the latter, Figs. 1 and 2.

The arm 21 of the leg 14 has a transverse cross sectional shapesubstantially that of a figure 8, Figs. 3, 5 and 6, having an enlargedsubstantially elliptical-shaped "upper edge portion 24 and an enlargedsubstantially elliptical-shaped lower edge portion 25 connected togetherby a reduced intermediate portion 26, Figs. 2 and 5, to thereby affordthe effect of two tubular members disposed one on top of the other inlongitudinally extending relation to each other. The arm 21 of the leg14 has arear end portion 21a and a front end portion 21b, projecting inopposite directions from the junction of the arm 21 with the arm 22 ofthat leg 14.

The arm 21 of the leg 14 may be made of any suitable material, such as,tubular steel, and preferably is tapered in construction, each of theend portions 21a and 21b thereof gradually narrowingin cross sectionfrom the junction of the arms 21 and 22 toward the respective free endsof the arm 21. i In forming the arm 21, I prefer to use a straighttubular steel member of substantially round cross-sectional shape, andhaving the desired longitudinal taper, and deforming the tubular memberinwardly along opposite sides thereof, in the horizontal plane of thelongitudinal center line thereof, to thereby afford the aforementionedcross-sectional shape of the arm 21.

The rear end portion 21a of the arm 21 is preferably substantially twicethe length of the front end portion 2112, so that the vertical arm 22 isdisposed rearwardly of the front end of the arm 21 approximatelyone-third of the length of the arm 21.

The vertical arm 22 of the leg 14 is similar in construction to the arm21, in that it is tubular in construction and has a cross-sectionalshape substantially that of a figure 8, Figs. 1 and 2. However, the arm22 is preferably of two-piece construction, having a lower end portion27 and an upper end portion 32 telescopingly arranged relative to eachother so that the length of arm 22 may be readily adjusted as will bediscussed in greater detail presently.

The lower end portion 27 of the arm 22 gradually diminishes incross-section from thetop end to the bottom end thereof, and, like thearm 21, preferably is made from a straight tubular steel member ofcircular crosssectional shape, and having the desired longitudinaltaper, the tubular member having the longitudinally extending centralportion 30 thereof deformed inwardly to thereby afford two oppositelydisposed longitudinally extending tubular portions 28 and29interconnected by an intermediate portion'30 of reduced cross-section,Figs. 1 and 2. The intermediate portion 30 of the lower-end-portion- 27of the arm 22 is preferably not reduced in size to the extent that theintermediate portion 26 of t'he arm 21' is so reduced, thetubularportions28 and-29 preferably being substantially round in crosssection.

The upper end portion 32 of the vertical arm 22 of the leg 14 issubstantially L-shaped, and has a vertically extending leg 32a andahorizontally extending leg 32b, Fig. 1. The upper end portion 32 may bemade of suitable material such as, for example, tubular steel in thesame manner as heretofore discussed with respect to the lower endportion 32. The vertically extending leg 32a of the upper end portion 32is preferably substantially complementary in cross-sectional size andshape to the lower end portion 27 of the leg 14 and is telescopinglymounted in the end portion 27. The horizontal leg 32b of the upper endportion 32 of the leg 14 extends perpendicularly in a horizontaldirection from the upper'end of the vertical leg 32!) and is secured tothe bottom of the housing 17 of the body portion 12 of the deskby anysuitable means such as, for example, being welded to brackets 34 securedto the lowerface of the housing 17.

The vertical leg 32a of the upper end portion 32 ofthe arm Z'Zisslidingly mounted in the lower end portion 27 of that arm forlongitudinal reciprocation relative to the latter. The vertical leg 32ahas a series of spaced openings 36 extending transversely through theintermediate portion 30 thereof, the openings 36 being spaced from eachother longitudinally of the leg portions 32a, Fig. 1. A bolt 38 isremovably mounted in, and extends through the upper end portion of theintermediate portion 30 of the lower end portion 27 of the vertical arm22, and may be extended through any one of the openings 36, alignedtherewith, to thereby hold the end portions 27 and 32 of the arm 22 insuitable vertically adjusted position relative to each other. A nut 39may be mounted on the bolt 38 to hold the bolt 38 in proper position inthe arm 22. With this construction, it will be seen'that the length ofthe arm 22 may be readily adjusted;

The arm 21 of the leg 14 embodies a scuff plate 41 mounted on the rearend portion 21a thereof. The scuff plate 41 is substantially identicalin cross-sectional size and shape to the edge portion 24 of the endportion 21a and may be longitudinally slid onto the edge portion 24 ofthe end portion 21a from the rear' end of the leg portion 21 toward thefront end thereof. The scuff plate 41 is preferably of such length thatwhen it is disposed in proper position on the leg 21 it isdisposedin'abutting engagement with the vertical arm 22 at its frontend, and the rear end of the scuff plate 41 is disposed forwardly of therear end of the rear end portion 21a of the arm 21'.

The scuff plate 41 may be made of any suitable material such as, forexample, sheet steel, and is substantially channel-shaped in crosssection, being of such shapeth'at the longitudinally extending free edgeportions 41a and 41b thereof fit into the oppositely disposed recessesformed by the reduced intermediate portion26 of the arm 21 in positionto effectively prevent displacement of the scuff plate 41 from the endportion 21a in a lateral direction, Fig. 5.

Two caps 43 and 44 are mounted onthe rear and front end portions,respectively, of each of the horizontal arms 21, Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 6.Each of the caps 43 and 44 embodies a body portion 43a and 44a,respectively, Which is complementary in size and-shape'to the front andrear ends of the arm 21, respectively, and is normally mounted on therespective end of the arm 21 in closely fitting relation thereto. Twotongues 43b and 44b project from the lower end portions of the'bodyportions 43a and 44a, respectively, and, when thecaps 43 and 44 aremounted on the arm 21, the tongues 43b and 445 are disposed under thearm 21 in juxtaposition thereto. The tongues 43b and 44b are'attachedto' the arm 21 by any suitable means such as, screws 46, Fig. 3,

which extend through the tongues 43b and 44b and are threadedly engagedin the'lower sideof--the'arm'21.--

Two feet 43c and 440 are mounted on the lower end portions of the bodymembers 43a and 44a, respectively, and are attached thereto by anysuitable means such as, rivets 48, Figs. 3 and 4. The feet 43c and 440project downwardly from the body portions 43a and 44a and affordsupporting members which may support the arm 21 of the leg 14 inupwardly spaced relation to the floor or other supporting surface onwhich the desk 10 may rest.

The rear cap 43 on the arm 21 isdisposed in' abutting engagement withthe rear end of the scuff plate 41 moun-tedonthat arm; sotha't the scuffplate 414s effectively held in position to cover the upper portion 24 ofthe rear end portion 21a of the arm 21, with the front end of the scuffplate 41 being disposed in abutting engagement with the lower endportion of the vertical arm 22.

It will be remembered that the leg 15 is identical in construction tothe leg 14, except that it isa mirrorimage thereof, and" the leg-15 maybe secured to the body portion 12 of'the desk 10 inthe same manner as'the leg 14.

It will be appreciated by those ski-lledin the art that although theedge, portions 24 and 25 of the'arms 21 are shown herein as beingsubstantially elliptical in" crosssection, this ismerely by way" ofillustration and not byway of limitation,-and that they may be of otherdesired practical shape such as, for example, round-in crosssection,which is effective to operatively engage the scuff plates 41for'holding' the latter againstlateral displacement therefrom.

In' the assembly of an-article of furnitu're such as the desk 10embodying the principles *ofrriy invention, the upper end portions 32 ofthe vertical arms 22 may be attached to brackets 34 on the lower face ofthe body portion1'2- of the desk 10. The arms 21 and 22 of'each of thelegs 14 and 15 may be welded together in substantially perpendicularrelationto each'other, and the scuff plates 41 may be slidlongitudinally forwardly along the rear end portions 21a of' the arms 21into abutting en'- gagement with the lower en'd'portion'sof therespective arms 22. The caps 43 'and'44 may then be mounted on the rearand front end portions of the arms 21 and secured in position by thescrews 46. When the rear caps 43 are so disposed onthe arms 21, they areeffective to hold the scuff plates 41' associated therewith in positionto protect the rear end portions 21a of the arms 21 from scuffing. Withthis construction, the scuff plates 41 may be readily removed from thelegs 14 and 15' by merely removing the screws 46 in the rear caps 43,then'removing the rear caps-43 and, thereafter sliding the scuff plates41 rearwardly along the rear end portions 21a of the arms 21.Thereafter, the scuff plates 41 may again be'mounted on the arms 21, ormay be readily replaced by new scuff plates 41, if this is desired.

It will be seen that with my novel'invention, the' lower portions of abase for furniture such as, for example, desks, or the like, may beprotected against scufiing ina novel and expeditious manner.

Also, it will be seen that my novelscuff plates are mounted on the legs14 and 15 in such a manner that they are effectively retained inposition during use" of the furniture on which they are mounted.

Also, it will be seen that with my novel construction, the scuff plates41 may be quickly and easily removed and replaced if this is desired.

In addition, it will be seen that I have afforded a novel and practicalarticle of furniture which may bereadily and economically producedcommercially.

Thus, while I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of'my invention, it is to be understood that this is capable of variationand modification, and'I therefore do not wish' to be limited tothe'precise details set forth, but desire to avail myself of suchchanges and alterations as fall within the purview of the followingclaims.

I claim:

'1. An article of furniture comprising a body portion, and a basesupporting said body portion in elevated position, said base includingupright means having an upper end portion and a lower end portion, saidupper end portion being attached to said body portion in supportingrelation thereto, horizontally extending elongated means attached tosaid lower end portion, supporting means mounted on said elongated meansin spaced relation to said upright means, and an elongated substantiallychannel-shaped scuff plate mounted on said elongated means in partiallyenclosing relation thereto and clamped between said lower end portionand said supporting means with the opposite ends of said scufi platedisposed in abutting engagement with said lower end portion and saidsupporting means, respectively.

2. An article of furniture comprising a body portion, and a basesupporting said body portion in elevated position, said base including ahorizontally extending elongated supporting member having a portiongradually increasing in cross-sectional size from one end of saidmember, an elongated scufi plate having an internal gradually increasingcross-sectional size complementary to said portion, said scuff platebeing slidable longitudinally onto said portion into position to extendaround said portion in covering relation thereto, and means abuttinglyengaged with one end of said scufi plate for releasably holding saidsculf plate in said position on said portion.

3. In a desk, a base having two elongated substantially parallelhorizontally extending base members, two other base members, each ofsaid other base members being mounted on and projecting upwardly fromthe longitudinal center portion of a respective one of said firstmentioned members, each of said first mentioned members having two freeends and having a cross-sectional shape substantially in the form of afigure 8 and gradually increasing in size from each of said ends towardsaid other member mounted on the respective one of said first mentionedmembers, elongated scuif plates contemporary to one side of one endportion of said first mentioned members, each of said scuif plates beingslidably mounted on said one side of a respective one of said one endportions of said first mentioned members for longitudinal movementrelative thereto into and out of enclosing relation to said lastmentioned one side, and supporting feet on said first mentioned members,said feet including cap members complementary in cross-sectional size tothe free ends of said one end portion and mounted on said one endportion in position to releasably hold said scuff plates in saidcovering relation to said one side thereof.

4. In an article of furniture, an elongated base member, an elongatedsubstantially channel-shaped scufi plate mounted on said base member inpartially enclosing relation thereto and slidable longitudinally of saidbase member, abutment means on said base member in spaced relation tothe ends of the latter, and other abutment means on an end portion ofsaid base member and spaced outwardly from said first mentioned abutmentmeans longitudinally of said base member in position to clamp said scufiplate against said first mentioned abutment means to thereby hold saidscufl. plate against movement longitudinally of said base member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,217,754 Johnson Oct. 15, 1940 2,564,386 Webb Aug. 14, 1951 2,583,702Meyer Jan. 29, 1952 2,603,909 Pettibone July 22, 1952 2,690,212 IakewaySept. 28, 1954 2,719,771 Hoven et a1 Oct. 4, 1955

